Note-book



. Patented Aug. 2, |898. C. H. HAKSTINGS. NOTE 800K.

(Application filed Aug. 14, 1897.)

(Nolodel.)

fllilnlnlrllnlrrA il rln'llnrlfdlllllllllllllllIllllllllIl UNITED STATES PATENT VOEEICE.

CHARLES H. HASTINGS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

N TE-eoo'k.

SPECIFICATION forming part or Letters Patent No. 608,286, dated August 2, ieee.

pertains to make and use the same, referenceY being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specication.

The invention relates to means for temporarily binding together the leaves of notebooks, and is applicable also to the tempo` v rary binding together of any articles capablev of being united by a cord.'

The object of the invention is to provide means for cheaply, easily, and securely binding togetherthe leaves of a book, such as a note-book, and in such manner that when the book is in use the leaves may be freely folded back and when notin use the bindingmay be easily tightened, so as to make a compact and rigid book of an otherwise loose tablet.

A further object is to provide means, in connection with such binding device, for easily separating without mutilation the sheets of which the book may bey composed.

The invention consists in a' cord having an enlargement and a loop at one end and a tag at the other, the tag being so attached that it freely assumes a transverse position as to the cord,and the length of the cord being such that its ends may be joined across the back of the book, so as to compactly and firmly bind the leaves together, and the construction being such that when the ends are not joined the leaves may be folded over backwardly, but are prevented from becoming separated.

In the'drawings, Figure l is a plan view of a note-book, the cover being partly broken away. Fig. 2 is a sectional View taken on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a detail section of the tag detached, taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1. Figs. 4 and 5 are respectively an elevation and an enlarged cross-section, on the line 5 5 of Fig. 4c, of a modified form of tag. Fig. 6 is adetail plan showing another modified form of construction. Fig. -7 is a sectional detail on the line 7 7 of Fig. 6. Fig. S is a detail elevation of the back of the notebook, showing another modification. Fig. 9 is an elevation'of the binding device shown in Fig. 8; and Fig. 10 is a detail plan of ther cover, showing one of its apertures.

A note-book to be used in connection with my improved binding device may or may not be provided with the cover shown, comprising the two boards A B, united by a flexible back a. It has the separable leaves C, each leaf being provided with one aperture or more, as shown at c, for the reception of the binding-cord, and when the covers A B are used they are correspondingly apertured, and their apertures are provided with eyelets b.

The binding-cord may consist of a-single strand, as shown at D,or of a double strand, as shown at D. A t one end of the cord there is an enlargement of greater diameter than the aperture through the book, and this enlargement may consist of a portion of the cord when a fiat piece of leather is used, as shown at G, this enlarged portion being apertured and provided with an eyelet g, or of a ring E, or simply of a knot, as shown at e. To the enteringA end of the cord is secured a tag F, the point of attachment being intermediate of the ends of the latter, but nearer one end than the other, so as to provide a heel-piecef of sufiicient length to overlap the edge of the aperture c as the tag assumes a position trans'- verse to the cord `when within the aperture.

The length of the cord is such that after entering through the aperture. of the book it may be passed over or across the back thereof and its two ends united by having its tag inserted through the loop, which may consist of the eyelet g, the ring E, or the end of the cord itself when the double-strandv form is used, as shown in Figs. 8 and 9. When the tag has been thus passedthrough the loop and released by the fingers of the user, it invariably assumes a position transverse to the loop. As shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, the cord and tag areattached by perforating thetag to receive the end of the cord, splitting (preferably by sawing, so as to remove some of the Inetal,) the tag longitudinally through its heel portion f to the aperture, as indicated at f', so as to facilitate placing the cord within the aperture, and then closing up the longitudinal IOO korf, so as to tightly grip the cord, which is normally larger than the aperture and is compressed when forced into it. The ends of the tag-aperture being reamed out so as to remove the sharp edge that would otherwise be left, the cord is not worn or cut off at its juncture with the tag. lYhen thus attached, strain upon the cord tends to bring the tag to a transverse position, and it is impossible to withdraw the cord from the apertures of the book withoutgrasping the tag and inserting its heel portion into the aperture. The cord may be of any suitable material, but I prefer rawhide, especially when the form of attachment shown in Figs. l, 2, and 3 is followed, as it is compressible, yet strong and durable.

\\"hen the construction of Figs. (i and 7 is used, the shank is iliade of a narrow strip of metal bent to bow form, a pivot-pin 71/ heilig passed through the ends of the bow to secure them to the shaft of the tag. The bow lf should be longer than the heel portion of the tag, so that the latter will freely enter it when the tag is brought into alincment with the cord. rl`he strip of which the bow ll is formed should be narrower than the width of the bow, so that when the double-strand form of cord is used as shown in Figs. S and t) the pinching of the strands upon the bow will turn it so that the shaft of the tag will cross them when it turns on the pin 7L.

lVhen the two ends of the cord have been united by inserting the tag through the loop, c velet, or ring at its enlarged end, the leaves of the book are lirmly and eompactly bound together. 'hen the two ends are not thus joined, theleaves of the book are but loosely bound together, but are held from separation by the transverse position of the tag, and the boek may be bent and folded backwardly and the separate leaves transferred from one side of the open book to the other at the pleasure of the user.

Ordinarily the binding device will be sold in conjunction with the book, but it may be sold as a separate article of manufacture, so that the user may provide himself with loose sheets and bind them togetherin book form.

The modified form of tag shown iu Figs. At and 5 consists of a wire K, doubled upon itself, so as to form a bifurcated shaft, and the cord D is attached by having its end inserted between the two arms of the tag, which are clamped tightly upon it by means of a slidering M. lVhen this construction is followed, the length of the heel of the shaft will depend upon the location between its arms of the cord end.

l do not desire to be limited to the partie` ular form of construction shown, as any other will serve which provides a cord with a loop at one end and a tag at the other, so as to permit the tag to assume a transverse position, and comes within the scope of the invention.

lVhile showing and describing the binding device in connection with the note-book, l do not desire to be limited to this particular use, as the device maybe advantageously used in connection with the binding together of any articles which may be perforated.

l claim as my inventionq l. As an article of manufacture, a bindingcord having one of its ends enlarged and apertn red, and a metal tag at its other end, such tag being apertured intermediate of its ends to receive the cord end, and split from one end to such aperture and then compressed upon the cord.

2. As an article of manufacture, abindingcord having a metal tag attached to one of its ends, such tag being apertured intermediate of its ends to receive the cord end, and split from one end to such aperture and then compressed upon the cord.

3. As an article of manufacture, a binding device comprising a cord having one of its ends enlarged and eyeleted, and a metal tag at its other end, such tag being apertured intermediate of its ends to receive the cord end, and split from one end to such aperture and then compressed upon the cord.

l. As an article of manufacture, a binding device comprising a cord having one of its ends enlarged and eyeleted, and a bifurcatcd metal tag at the other end, the cord being clamped between the arms of the tag intermediate of its ends, and secured by means of a slide-ring upon the tag.

In testimony whereof l aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

Cll'ARlilS ll'. IIAS'IINGS.

lVitnesses:

'Louis K. (HLLsoN, llns'run lainn. 

